Awards 2026
Every year, the Coleg gives a number of awards to talented individuals, either for excellent work, achievement or contribution.
The awards have been established in a variety of fields and individual Adjudication Panels have been established. In addition to these awards, the Coleg also awards Honorary Fellowships.
Nominations are open from 26 January - 23 February 2026
Please fill these forms to nominate an individual for an award:
Higher Education Awards nomination form
Further Education Awards nomination form
Tertiary sector Award nomination form
Winners will be revealed at the Coleg Annual Awards evening on 17 June 2026 in Cardiff.
AWARD DETAILS
The Gwyn Thomas Award
The best Dissertation presented in the field of the Welsh language as an academic subject.
The John Davies Award
The best Dissertation in Welsh on the History of Wales.
Merêd’s Award
Acknowledges a student’s contribution to Welsh life and culture, within the wider university.
'Celebrate Your Lecturer' Award
The ‘Celebrate Your Lecturer’ Award offers the opportunity for students or a group of students to nominate a lecturer who has made an enormous difference to Welsh life at the university. This award is for members of the Coleg’s associate lecturer scheme.
New Talent Award in memory of Gareth Pierce
To acknowledge an apprentice who has shown incredible talent and shone in the workplace.
Innovative Educator Award
Acknowledging the contribution of a tutor, practitioner or assessor who provides Welsh-language education in innovative ways.
Award for enriching the learner/apprentice experience
Acknowledging the contribution of a member of staff in the sector to increasing the use of Welsh among learners/apprentcies in a variety of less-formal settings.
Llais y Gymraeg
The award acknowledges a learner's contribution to the Welsh life and culture within a further education college.
Inspire Others Award
This award is awarded to a student in year 12 or 13 who is receiving education through the medium of Welsh in a Welsh or bilingual secondary school. The Award recognises a pupil's positive contribution in influencing and inspiring other pupils within the school and beyond, to use the Welsh language. Nominations should be submitted by Sixth Form Principals only. Only one nomination is allowed per school.
Pupil Encouragement Award
This award is awarded to a Teacher who has motivated and supported pupils to continue their Welsh-medium studies through years 12 and 13, and beyond.
Special Contribution Award – Tertiary Sector
This award is awarded to an individual from the tertiary sector who has influenced the development of Welsh language provision within their organisation.
Health and Care Award – Tertiary Sector
This award recognises an innovative project or contribution undertaken through the medium of Welsh by a learner or member of staff in the tertiary sector in the field of health and care. The project can be part of academic work, extra-curricular activity, community initiatives or professional development that contribute to strengthening the use of the Welsh language in the sector.
The award is open to nominations from the Higher Education, Further Education and Apprenticeships sectors — reflecting the diversity of learning methods available, as well as the vital role each plays in developing a bilingual health and care workforce.
The Norah Isaac Award
The best result by an undergraduate student in the Coleg Cymraeg Welsh Language Skills Certificate assessment.
The Gwerddon Award
To acknowledge an excellent article published in the ‘Gwerddon’ journal.
PAST WINNERS
The Gwyn Thomas Award
The best Dissertation presented in the field of the Welsh language as an academic subject.
Rhodri Siôn (2017)
Lowri Havard (2019)
Iestyn Tyne (2019
Gruffydd Rhys Davies (2020)
Nia Eyre (2021)
Catrin Eleri Huws (2022)
Roger Stone (2023)
Esyllt Einion (2024)
The John Davies Award
The best Dissertation in Welsh on the History of Wales.
Catrin Howells (2016)
Ceiri Coker (2017)
Elen Mererid Osmond Hughes (2018)
Michelle Rafferty (2019)
Llinos Mai Anwyl Evans (2020)
Anwen Rhiannon Jones (2021)
Charles Roberts (2022)
Annell Dyfri (2023)
Glain Meleri Hughes (2024)
Merêd’s Award
Acknowledges a student’s contribution to Welsh life and culture, within the wider university.
Trystan Ap Owen (2015)
Dan Rowbotham(2016)
Lauren Evans (2017)
Gwyn Aled Rennolf (2018)
Rebecca Martin (2019)
Tomos Evans (2020)
Owain Beynon (2021)
Alpha Evans (2022)
Deio Owen (2023)
Priya Dodiya (2024)
Gemma Waite (2025)
Award for an Excellent Welsh-medium Resource
AFor creating an excellent and high-quality Welsh-medium resource that supports students in their studies.
This award is for members of the Coleg’s associate lecturer scheme.
Elin Royles a Huw Lewis (2019)
Rhys Jones, Marie Busfield, Hywel Griffiths, Cerys Jones, Rhys D Jones (2020)
Jeni Price (2021)
Llyr Roberts (2022)
Rhian Hodges a Cynog Prys (2023)
Alwena Morgan (2024)
Carwyn Jones (2025)
Extraordinary Contribution Award
For an extraordinary contribution to higher education (beyond their professional role). This category does not concentrate fully on lifelong contribution – it is possible to acknowledge individuals for their contribution over shorter time periods where the effect has been substantial.
This award is for members of the Coleg’s associate lecturer scheme.
Lowri Cunnington Wyn (2021)
Gwenan Prysor (2022)
Dr Hywel Griffiths (2023)
Elen Mai Nefydd (2024)
Mirjam Plantinga (2025)
'Celebrate Your Lecturer' Award
The ‘Celebrate Your Lecturer’ Award offers the opportunity for students or a group of students to nominate a lecturer who has made an enormous difference to Welsh life at the university. This award is for members of the Coleg’s associate lecturer scheme.
Geraint Forster (2021)
Gethin Thomas (2022)
Gwyneth Richards (2023)
Rhian Griffiths (2024)
Non Vaughan Williams (2025)
Facilitating Welsh Medium Education Award
Llŷr Roberts ac Eleri Pryse (2019)
Rhys Jones (2020)
Innovation Across Borders Award
Iwan Thomas (2019)
Team JOMEC (2020)
New Talent Award in memory of Gareth Pierce
To acknowledge an apprentice who has shown incredible talent and shone in the workplace.
Osian James (2023)
Cerys Brown (2024)
Claire Elizabeth Hughes (2025)
Innovative Educator Award
Acknowledging the contribution of a tutor, practitioner or assessor who provides Welsh-language education in innovative ways.
Lowri Bugg (2023)
Marion Evans (2024)
Med Richards (2025)
Special Contribution Award
This award will be given to a member of the management team for influencing the development of Welsh-language provision within their organisation.
Carys Swain (2023)
Amy Thomas (2024)
Lisa Waters (2025)
Award for enriching the learner/apprentice experience
Acknowledging the contribution of a member of staff in the sector to increasing the use of Welsh among learners/apprentcies in a variety of less-formal settings.
Sian Chandler (2023)
Sophia Randall (2024)
Lisa Evans (2025)
The Coleg also give two awards in collaboration with the William Salesbury Trust:
The William Salesbury Medicine Award
Acknowledging an innovative research project or a contribution to current extracurricular activities through the medium of Welsh within the field of Medicine.
Clwb y Mynydd Bychan (2021)
Dwynwen Spink (2022)
Branwen Jones, Sara Gwyn and Niamh Goodwin-Thomas (2023)
Elin Bartlett a Celyn Jones-Hughes (2024)
Heledd Evans (2025)
The William Salesbury Further Education Award
Acknowledging a learner’s contribution to Welsh life and culture, within a Further Education College
Ifan Phillips (2021)
Ffion Llewelyn (2022)
Yvon Sebastian Landais (2023)
Olivia Williams (2024)
Luca McAlpine (2025)
The Norah Isaac Award
The best result by an undergraduate student in the Coleg Cymraeg Welsh Language Skills Certificate assessment.
Cerith Rhys Jones (2014)
Manon Elwyn Hughes (2015)
Meinir Olwen Williams (2016)
Aneirin Karadog (2017)
Anna Wyn Jones (2018)
Cerian Fflur Colbourne (2019)
Gruffydd Rhys Davies (2020)
Sioned Spencer (2021)
Catrin Llwyd (2022)
Elin Bartlett (2023)
Owain Huw Parry (2024)
Sion Ifan Jones (2025)
The Eilir Hedd Morgan Award
Dr Huw Morgan (2014)
Hywel Griffiths (2015)
Siwan Davies (2016)
Prysor Williams (2017)
Tudur Davies (2018)
Maire Busfield (2019)
Hefin Wyn Williams (2021)
Rhian Hedd Meara (2023)
Cerys Jones (2025)
The Gwerddon Award
To acknowledge an excellent article published in the ‘Gwerddon’ journal.